The Moving Picture Weekly (1916-1917)

-THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY -17 at leats a limb or two, for the camera, and he waited hopefully for the chance. In "A Stranger from Somewhere" it came. In one scene the hero, while in the person of Sam Brockton, has to fall and roll dowTi a flight of unpadded steps. Director Worthington offered to put in a substitute, as the scene is "shot" from 3. considerable distance. But the young actor refused with scorn. "Why," he said, "It's the very chance I've been waiting for, to prove that I'm a real movie actor at last, and now you want to take it away from me!" The supporting cast is more than up to the Bluebird's high standard. Agnes Vernon has the role of the girl who is puzzled almost beyond the retention of her sanity by the cameleon-like changes of her lover. Woi'thington has directed little ^'Brownie" Vernon in countless photoplays, but never with greater success than in this. Claire McDowell, one of the most finished of screen actresses, has a most congenial role as the villainess, "Olga," and forms a striking contrast to blonde little Miss Vernon. All the other roles are in capable hands, and the whole picture is handled in a way that calls for nothing but praise. Some of the endless complications are given in the following brief synopsis. Howard Dana and his partner, Olga, had been tipped off that Sam Brockton, a newly-made millionaire from the West, was in towTi, and they begin laying their plans to fleece him. Kno%ving that the millionaires in a certain district had closed their houses and were spending their summer at different resorts, they affect an entrance to the Darling mansion and practically take possession. It so happens that before Sam has had time to procure a change of cos Sam holds up the supposed intruders. tume he assists in helping Grace Darling and her father when their carriage has overturned. Both are attracted, but she goes on her way, leaving Sam gazing after her awestricken. Olga has been near by and watched the meeting and soon has Sam engaged in conversation. She asks him to call upon her, when she will arrange to have him meet the beauty he has rescued. With this in mind, Sam goes to the Darling mansion, where Olga and Dana work the old badger game. Sam, in spite of his innocent look, is Dana and Olga think Sam is "Dippy.' really wise, but he takes his medicine like a soldier. At this moment Grace ari'ives, as she had come home to get more clothes. She thinks for a time that Sam is one of the crooks, but he convinces her and Mr. Darling that he is not. While he is doing so, however, Olga and Dana escape. Grace invites Sam to spend the week-end with them in the mountains. Sam is delighted and can scarcely wait. Olga meantime learns of the invitation. At a meeting with the leader of their gang, "Dippy" Lewis, Olga notices the close resemblance of Lewis to Sam and straightaway "Dippy" is transfoiTTied into as good an imitation of Sam as possible and goes to visit Grace. She is surprised to see him so soon, but is gracious to him, although he often embaiTasses her with his uncouth manner, which is attributed to his being so long in the West. "Dippy" cannot resist the temptation to steal from some of the guests, and it is not long until he feels that it is safer for him to leave while he has the chance. Sam arrives just shortly after "Dippy's" departure and cannot understand why Grace treats him in such a cool manner. He is greatly surprised a little later when Olga and T^fina aiTive — not knowing that "Dippy" had left and thinking Sam is "Dippy" — and advise him to propose to Grace. Sam is elated that Grace should consider him and is more than happy when she promises to marry him. As he leaves her to find Mr. Darling, Olga and Dana meet (Continued on Page 21.)